Transcript for James Franco Admits Flirting With Teen Over Social Media

There he is, actor, James Franco, now saying he has learned a hard lesson about social media, or did he? Yeah. Is flirting with a 17-year-old fan caused a major buzz feed. Then came the damage control on national television. But some are wondering if it was all a brilliant mistake. ABC's Linzie Janis is here with more. Lot of people talking about this this morning. Yeah. You have a mystery. I'm loving this story. Good morning, guys. James Franco says he's embarrassed by the whole thing, but this morning not everyone is buying it. Questioning whether this is some kind of publicity stunt? Extreme acting perhaps. Or was Franco a naughty boy at an inopportune time. Reporter: James Franco, the academy award nominee who is a poet and occasional college professor. But is he also some kind of man cougar? Thank you. Reporter: The 35-year-old going on live with Kelly and Michael Friday, saying he feels odd about getting caught trying to pick up a 17-year-old fan. I guess I'm just a model of, you know, how social media is tricky, you know. It's a way people meet each other today, but what I've learned, I guess, just because I'm new to it, you don't know who is on the other end. So I used bad judgment and I learned my lesson. Reporter: New to social media? Isn't the that is same Franco who has over 2,000 instagram photos and was behind this viral spoof of the kim-ye cover? He was clearly comfortable. He clearly said the right words. Kind of sheepish. Reporter: The encounter all posted to instagram by the scottish woman who met the star after his Tuesday performances Broadways "Of mice and men" after the two got in touch, Franco got basic deals like age and relationship status before asking what's the hotel. Should I rent a room? Even providing proof it's really him. Sending her two selfies before ending the flirty conversation with the skeptical teen. If you don't want to meet, then text me when you do. Bye. Some saying it looks like a strange coincidence. Makes headlines just hours after the online release of the trailer for Franco's new movie, "Palo alto" in which he plays a soccer coach who gets involved with one of his high school players. Scottish teen told Franco she would come back to meet him when he turns 18. The age of consent here in new York is 17 years old. But seriously, James, chatting up someone half our age, it's outrageous, don't you think? Yeah. I have a bad feeling about all of that. Yeah. I don't think that was a brilliant move even if it was a P.R. Move. The house was packed with teenage girls, college girls. Now they'll be screaming outside. I thought about waiting around. Glad I didn't. Clearly. I might as well be 85. It was a good play, though. This conversation has gone in a direction I didn't foresee. Thank you very much. Appreciate that.

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